Charlene Dressing Up with Care for Subai

The next day.

Monday morning only had an elective class during the second period, the kind that could easily be skipped.

Su Bai arrived at the cafeteria right at nine o'clock to meet up with Xia Lin.

From a distance, he spotted her in her sporty outfit. Even though she was sitting in an inconspicuous corner of the cafeteria, she stood out effortlessly among the crowd of students.

As a graduate student, she had the advantage of a few extra years of maturity and a keen sense of style.

Her fitted athletic top and yoga pants, designed in dark tones, accentuated her toned, athletic figure perfectly.

With a fresh, natural makeup look, she was undeniably a striking, sporty beauty.

"Xia Lin, you look gorgeous today," Su Bai remarked casually as he approached with his breakfast tray.

A faint hint of discomfort flickered across Xia Lin's face before she replied nonchalantly, "Really? I feel like I look the same every day."

"That just means your makeup skills are top-notch, keeping your look consistently flawless," Su Bai said, openly admiring her. "This 'no-makeup' makeup look is really well done."

"Oh? You actually know about 'no-makeup' makeup?" Xia Lin teased.

"Is that surprising?"

"Most guys don’t pick up on these things. Plenty of people have thought I wasn’t wearing any makeup at all," she laughed.

As a counselor who also handled some Youth League Committee work, Xia Lin couldn’t go for heavy makeup.

But like any girl, she still cared about her appearance, so she preferred light, everyday looks.

Sometimes, when she was too busy or lazy, she’d skip it altogether—unless she was meeting someone she actually cared about.

Today, for some inexplicable reason, she had woken up early and spent nearly an hour meticulously getting ready before accompanying Su Bai to check out an apartment.

Deep down, she knew why.

Now in her early twenties, she was no longer the naive girl fresh out of high school.

Her parents had been introducing her to potential suitors, but none had impressed her so far.

Some were too old, others had questionable personalities, and most fell short in terms of basic compatibility.

Looks weren’t the biggest issue—it was more about physique. The wealthy young men she met often lived indulgent lifestyles, and very few maintained a decent figure.

Su Bai, however, ticked all her boxes.

Those broad shoulders, that toned abdomen—just thinking about it made Xia Lin feel a little warm.

Even better, Su Bai excelled in other areas too.

Judging by his spending habits, he was the low-key wealthy type, just like her.

Not one to flaunt, but still willing to indulge in life’s luxuries.

That was the most crucial factor. For a serious relationship, financial compatibility came first.

In Jiangcheng, finding a guy who could keep up with her lifestyle was rare.

Add in her preferences for physique and age, and candidates like Su Bai were practically unicorns—making him an incredibly scarce resource.

Xia Lin was determined to seize this opportunity and see if she could win his affection.

A catch like him wasn’t something she could let slip away.

Hearing Su Bai compliment her makeup, she couldn’t help but feel pleased.

She picked up a sesame ball from her plate and held it out to him with her fingers.

"Try this—it’s new at the breakfast counter. Taro flavor."

Su Bai paused.

Xia Lin wasn’t using chopsticks. Instead, she pinched the snack between her thumb and index finger, offering it directly to his mouth.

Understanding the gesture, Su Bai kept his expression neutral and took a bite, letting his lips brush lightly against her fingertips.

"How is it?"

"Delicious."

"Good boy~"

Feeling the warmth of his lips against her fingers, Xia Lin didn’t react with the shyness of a schoolgirl. Instead, she simply smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, her brows softening with satisfaction.

Her beauty was the refined, elegant kind—the type that made her look like the perfect wife for a successful man.

The kind people called "a face that brings fortune."

"This woman would make an excellent wife," Su Bai thought to himself.

After finishing breakfast, the two walked to the school parking lot together.

"Want to ride with me?" Xia Lin asked.

"No need. I’ll drive. If I decide to move in, I’ll need the car to haul some stuff anyway."

"Sure."

When Su Bai unlocked his Mercedes GLE, Xia Lin wasn’t the least bit surprised—it felt completely expected.

She’d seen plenty of luxury cars worth hundreds of thousands, if not millions.

Her own ride was an Audi Q7.

Su Bai, of course, had no intention of showing off. Once Xia Lin was settled in, they set off.

The drive was short, just over ten minutes.

Along the way, Xia Lin filled Su Bai in on the serviced apartment they were visiting.

"Ascott is one of the more established high-end apartment brands in China. The one we’re seeing is a newer branch, opened just three years ago—no lingering renovation smells, and the facilities are still fresh. It’s in its prime."

"Sounds perfect. Lucky me," Su Bai said, then corrected himself. "Wait, no—I shouldn’t say it’s luck. I owe it all to you for making this happen."

"It's no trouble at all. As a counselor, looking after students is part of my job."

Soon, the two arrived at the Ascott Jiangcheng University Residence.

As they entered the lobby, Su Bai noticed several residents coming and going, including a few foreign faces. They all carried the air of accomplished professionals.

According to Xia Lin, many visiting scholars at Jiangcheng University preferred staying at the Ascott—especially since their expenses were covered.

The receptionist greeted them with a professional smile and a slight bow. "Welcome to the Ascott. Are you here for a short-term stay or a long-term lease?"

Xia Lin replied, "A long-term lease, likely for an extended period. We also have specific requirements for the apartment type and services. Is your sales manager available?"

"Of course. Right this way, please."

The receptionist led them to an office at the far end of the lobby.

The manager, who had just started his shift, perked up at the prospect of a long-term rental deal.

"How may I address you both?"

"My surname is Xia, and his is Su. He’s the one looking to rent—I’m just here to help him evaluate the options."

"Understood. You... you look familiar. Are you Xia Lin from Jiangcheng University?"

"Yes, that’s me."

The manager chuckled warmly. "I thought so! I remember you came to view an apartment last year as well." Clearly, he was aware of Xia Lin’s background.

Xia Lin responded politely, "I was quite satisfied with the place back then, but it felt too spacious for just one person—almost wasteful. In the end, I chose to stay in the graduate dorm with my roommate. It’s livelier that way."

"Makes sense. So, Mr. Su, will you be living here alone?"

The manager turned to Su Bai.

"Mostly, though I’ll often have female company."

Clearing his throat, Su Bai laid out his requirements: "I want the largest and most luxurious apartment available, with all the premium amenities. Price isn’t an issue—my budget is up to a million per month."

The manager: "..."